20091130

• Jim Murray, author of the United Kingdom's renowned Whisky Bible, ruffled a lot of feathers with some comments he made while releasing the 2010 edition of his guide, the top-selling such publication in the UK. His top pick was Sazerac 18 Year Old, a Kentucky rye.

"There is still a sneering attitude in some quarters that, if it is not made in Scotland, then somehow it is not proper whisky.

"I don't think the Scots have a lot to be complacent about at the moment in terms of whisky. While the best is still exceptional, there is a lot of Scotch whisky out there which is really not good at all."

Sazerac Rye isn't the most recognized whiskey in the world, but it certainly is a respected one.

Its latest accolade comes across the pond, where the 2010 Whisky Bible, the UK's top-selling guide, has named the 18-year-old Sazerac Rye from Kentucky THE best whisky/whiskey, including the UK's beloved Scotches.

It topped 3,850 other whiskies that were considered, with Ardbeg Supernova from the Hebridean island of Islay as No. 2 after dominating the awards for the past three years. Interestingly, an Indian whiskey, Amrut Fusin from Bangalore, was No. 3.

Jim Murray, author of the guide, described the rye as "reaching previously unknown heights. ... In beating all other world-whiskey types, Sazerac 18 has set the bar for rye whiskey and it will be fascinating in forthcoming years to see what is bottled to at least match it."

Harlen Wheatley is the master distiller at the Franklin County, KY, facility of Buffalo Trace, which makes Sazerac and other brands.

Murray told news media that "There is still a sneering attitude in some quarters that, if it is not made in Scotland, then somehow it is not proper whisky. I don't think the Scots have a lot to be complacent about at the moment in terms of whisky. While the best is still exceptional, there is a lot of Scotch whisky out there which is really not good at all."

In recent years, Buffalo Trace has emerged as arguably the world's top whisky maker if one goes by industry awards.

Malt Advocate magazine's Malt Society names the Sazerac 19 top American whiskey in 2001 and 2005; Malt Advocate Distiller of the Year in 2000, 2005 and 2006; Whisky Magazine (a UK publication) Distiller of the Year in 2005 and 2007; Wine Enthusiast Magazine Distiller of the Year in 2006, and so on.

20091129

• Lady Gaga (a/k/a Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta), 23, is arguably the hottest dance music star in show biz today. The irrepressible, gaudily-attired American singer (her latest album is "The Fame Monster") didn't get that way by wasting her time doing the club scene, as she noted in an MTV interview.

"I don't go to nightclubs. You don't see pictures of me falling out of a club drunk.

"I don't go -- and that's because I usually go and then, you know, a whiskey-and-a-half into it, I got to get back to work.

"Because I love my work so much, I find it really hard to go out and have a good time."

20091128

Chalk up one more single malt whisky for the UK, but don't credit this one to Scotland.

The English Whisky Co., which operates St. George's Distillery in Norfolk, has gone to market with its own single malt, complete with a label showing St. George in dragon-slaying mode.

David Fitt, distiller at St. George's, tells local news media the reaction from the Scots has been fast and sometimes furious. One angry e-mail proclaimed, "You've betrayed Scotland."

The whisky which will go on sale beginning December 16 has been aging since 2006, when the first barrels were produced.

St. George's is the first and only registered whisky distillery in England. It is using barley grown in Norfolk along with Breckland water. Forsyths of Rothes, which has been servicing the whisky industry since the late 1800s, built the equipment in the distillery, including the copper stills. Iain Henderson, a former manager at the Laphroaig Distillery, oversaw the initial production.

The company says next year it will bottle a peaty spirit distilled by Henderson. It also plans to experiment with sherry and Madeira casks, and plans a special English whisky for the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in the UK.

20091126

Some years ago, in a TV commercial for a certain brand of cheese, an actor turned up his nose every time the voiceover informed viewers that a competing brand contained "casein."

To many people, that meant casein -- from the Latin word for cheese and pronounced kay/scene -- was a bad thing. To those who know it is the main phosphoprotein that makes up 80% of the proteins in cow's milk and cheese, we wondered what the big deal was. But, as always, advertising won out.

The creators of a new vodka called Devotion are hoping drinkers will accept casein as a good thing, because they've added it to their spirit and are pushing the drink as a jolly way for athletes to hydrate for muscle recovery.

Devotion Spirits is a San Francisco company founded last year by Drew Adelman, a nightlife and dining aficionado and fitness buff. The 80 proof vodka, triple distilled from corn, is infused with PeptoPro® casein.

“My own personal mantra has always been, if you are going to be bad you might as well be good,” Adelman said. “With Devotion Vodka I can stay devoted to my regimen while stepping out for a good time. I used to actually take my own protein out with me when I went for a night on the town. Then I realized there were millions of people like me who wanted to take care of their bodies and also have a good time. From that passion, Devotion Vodka was born.”

The new spirit is being marketed for $29.99 for the 750ml bottle in California, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut at the moment. Market response will dictate its future distribution.

20091118

Ontario Province's first micro-distillery has released its first spirit to the domestic market.

Still Waters Distillery, located in Concord, Ontario, has created a single malt vodka from two-rowed Canadian barley usin artisan distilling techniques. It is made by hand in small batches using a pot still.

Unlike most vodkas, which are produced by industrial processes from a mix of grains, Still Waters Distillery uses only single malt barley, similar to Scotch whisky. Its vodka is distilled from the grain then triple distilled.

Still Waters Vodka retails at $36.95 ($35 US) for a 750ml bottle. It is being supplied to Canadian outlets now, with a U.S. launch in the near future.

“After years of planning, we are excited to be Ontarioʼs ﬁrst true micro-distillery, joining the growing artisan distilling industry in North America," said Barry Bernstein, co-founder with Barry Stein of Still Waters Distillery. “We personally produce our vodka starting with handling of the grain, through distillation and ﬁnal packaging.”

Still Waters Distillery started production in March of this year. It also is making single malt and rye whiskey to be available in several years once it has matured in locally-constructed oak casks.

LOUISVILLE, KY -- Heaven Hill Distilleries has been voted the best distiller in the U.S. in this year's "U.S. Icons of Whisky," conducted by Whisky Magazine.

The judges said of the family owned company that it had "quietly been getting on with the job and releasing some stunning whiskies."

It distills and distributes such brands as Evan Williams and Elijah Craig bourbons.

The Icons celebrate the people and places behind the greatest whiskies in the world, with the judging process taking place in regional heats including the U.S., Scotland and "Rest of the World." Whisky Magazine, published in the UK, is the world's leading magazine devoted to such spirits.

The awards ceremony took place at Bourbon's Bistro here. The U.S. winners now go head-to-head with the Scottish and "Rest of the World" winners, and the final World Icons will be announced at a ceremony held on the eve of "Whisky Live: London" on February 25, 2010.

Winners were:DISTILLER OF THE YEAR: Heaven Hill Distilleries

VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR: Buffalo Trace DistilleryAMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR: Frank Coleman, Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS)INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR: Woodford Reserve

RETAILER OF THE YEAR (SINGLE): Park Avenue Liquors, New YorkRETAILER OF THE YEAR (MULTIPLE): Binny's Beverage Depot, Chicago

Heaven Hill, located in Bardstown, KY, won "Distiller of the Year" honors last year from Whisky Magazine, as well as "Visitor's Attraction of the Year."

20091117

When it comes to vodka, celebrity connections pop up in any number of ways.

The celebrity mags and cable TV gossip shows keep reporting on the likes of celebrities such as Donald Trump and Dan Aykroyd appearing around the country, pushing the particular vodkas in which they have a heavy financial stake. For Trump, it's his own Trump brand -- no surprise. For Aykroyd it’s Crystal Skull, sold in a bottle shaped like a transparent skull.

Professional athletes are part of the parade, too. Football Hall of Famer John Elway has a stake in, and touts for, something called Nude Vodka. Veteran golfer Fuzzy Zoeller has Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka, which he introduced over the summer.

Then there is model/actress Elizabeth Hurley, who has been getting a lot of press from a recent UK interview in which she breathlessly revealed that now that she’s age 40 she has switched from coffee and wine to vodka as her beverage of choice to help maintain her famous figure.

Even a film classic is getting into the act. Paramount Pictures and Iconic Brands are planning a spring 2010 launch of The Godfather Italian Organic Vodka, named for the series of films.

"The celebrity niche in the drink sector these days is somewhat in vogue and lots of people are trying to do it," said Richard DeCicco, CEO of Iconic Brands. "I think Paramount is realizing what a powerful brand 'The Godfather' is. The fact that (it) has been the No. 1 grossing movie of all time, there seemed to be a nice opportunity."

But these all are just efforts in search of a market. They’re certainly not up to the track record of a certain rapper/actor/producer/clothing designer/entrepreneur of who you may have heard.

He may not hit all demographic groups, but Sean Combs (above) -- a/k/a/ Puff Daddy, then P-Diddy, now just Diddy, unless I've missed a metamorphosis or two -- connects with enough of them to help hike Ciroc vodka sales.

The many-markets mogul began promoting the French vodka just two years ago this month, and sales already have increased by 400,000 cases in that period.

Combs, widely believed to have received a share of the company in addition to major money for his efforts, will have more products to push before long.

Mark Strachan, Ciroc marketing director, has revealed that two new flavors of the grape-based vodka will be introduced to the U.S. market in early 2010: coconut and red berry.

20091116

There's a new player on the tequila market: Dulce Vida, which has just released a complete line on a limited basis in the Austin and San Antonio markets.

"This has been a labor of agave love for the past two years," said Charlie Paulette, CEO of Dulce Vida Spirits Inc. "The spirit industry here in Texas continues to grow and gain steam."

The Austin-based company sources its organic agave from the Mexican Pacific Coast Highland region of Tepic, Nayarit. The soil and geography are very different from the better-known lowland tequila areas, and this particular region -- surrounded by both ocean and mountains -- yields larger agave plants.

Unlike most tequilas that are 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof), Dulce Vida is 50% abv, triple distilled and made with 100% single estate, organic blue agave. Its Reposado and Añejo are aged in single-barrel oak Kentucky Whiskey barrels, the Reposado for 12 months and the Añejo for 24.

The entire line is distilled and aged under the supervision of founder and master distiller Carlos Jurado at the Ansan Distillery in Santa Cruz del Astillero, Jalisco.

Suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle is $45 for the Blanco, $50 for the Añejo and $55 for Reposado.

20091110

You're in Maine with a group of friends or family and want to sample a couple of beers or spirits before making your purchase.

No problem, you think. The state legislature earlier this year passed a bill authorizing stores that sell beer or liquor to hold up to a dozen public tastings a year.

Ah, but there is a problem. A last-minute amendment to that law says tastings “must be conducted in a manner that precludes the possibility of observation by children.” It has caused all sorts of complaints from stores.

As a result, Rep. Stacey Fitts, R-Pittsfield, has introduced legislation aimed at addressing the problems, a proposal that has received the unanimous support of the Legislative Council, which reviews all bills proposed for the legislative session that begins in January.

The intent of the new law was to give sellers of spirits and specialty brews the same marketing tool that has helped Maine wine shops draw additional customers. But, since it went into effect in September, vendors have gone through all sorts of machinations to keep children from seeing any tasting activities.

For example, Leslie Thistle of Bangor Wine & Cheese Co. told the Bangor Daily News she has to cover her front and back door windows with black and drape a sheet across the large storefront windows, giving her shop the feel of a speakeasy during her monthly tastings.

"The law also means that she could be found in violation if a parent with children in tow comes into her shop to purchase a bottle of wine during a tasting event," the newspaper said. "She also pointed out that there are no laws shielding children from the sight of people drinking alcohol while seated on a restaurant’s outdoor patio."

Other wine and beer shops have taken similar steps to cover their windows or discourage minors from seeing inside during an event.

“Many stores that traditionally never had a problem conducting wine tastings are being hurt by this onerous requirement,” Fitts said in a statement. “My bill would instead mandate that a sign be placed at the entrance to an establishment when an event is being held, so all patrons are aware of the taste-testing.”

It's not always what's inside that counts when it comes to marketing Scotch whisky.

Ballantine's, a brand that is one of the world's top seller in its category but not often mentioned in the same breath as the most highly rated Scotches, has come up with a new gimmick to help attract attention from bar and cocktail lounge visitors, particularly the younger ones.

It's a new dark blue bottle that has a design incorporating a graphic equalizer. It gives the appearance of reacting to sound passing through it just as it would if dialed up on a computer, CD player or other device.

The container was designed by the UK agency The Core and made by a UK company called Kandoo from molded plastic. The label works by using electroluminescent technology.

The bottle currently is being used in Germany, accord to Packaging News UK, "and 35 other markets around the world have ordered the bottle, including Thailand, Mexico, Spain and Russia." No word on when it will reach our shores.

The November edition of my "What Will They Think of Next?" cocktail series featured makgeolli, the traditional Korean fermented rice wine.

Now comes a report from the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo that "Makgeolli is rising in popularity in Korea as more people are health-conscious even when it comes to drinking."

Couple that with the relatively inexpensive prices of makgeolli products, and you have an 87% increase in sales from January to October compared to the same period last year, with younger consumers leading the way.

According to convenience store chain GS25, revenues from makgeolli sales in September overtook those for whiskey for the first time with sales of the fermented rice wine coming in third place after beer and soju," Chosun Ilbo reports.

Makgeolli, also known as takju, is made from rice which accounts for its milky appearance. It is made by fermenting a mixture of boiled rice and water, and is about 6.5 to 7% alcohol by volume (13 to 14 proof). It was originally most popular among farmers, who called it nongju, which means "farmer liquor."

20091104

He may not hit all demographic groups, but Sean Combs --a/k/a/ Puff Daddy, then P-Diddy, now just Diddy, unless I've missed a metamorphosis or two -- connects with enough of them to help hike Ciroc vodka sales.

The pop music/clothing design mogul began promoting the French vodka just two years ago this month, and sales have increased by 400,000 cases in that period.

Combs, widely believed to have received a share of the compnay in addition to major money for his efforts, will have more products to push before long.

Mark Strachan, Ciroc marketing director, has revealed that two new flavors of the grape-based vodka will be introduced to the U.S. market in early 2010: coconut and red berry.

Ciroc is co-owned by drinks giant Diageo, which among other brans owns Ketel One and Smirnoff vodkas.

20091102

• Like her mom, the actress Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson has never been on the chubby side. Quite the opposite, as discussed in an interview with the actress in the current issue of Elle magazine. She dropped to about 105 pounds for a movie role as a terminally ill woman.

"I love my glass of wine. I love tequila.

"To be in New York for two weeks and not have one beverage! I'm not sure I've ever done that.

20091101

• Sometimes you have to wonder if certain cocktails are intentional, or the result of too many other cocktails. This month's trio of recipes to add to your collection come under the oddball category.

DOS RITA

This unusual concoction comes from Ruby Tequila's Mexican Kitchen in Houston, TX. Rather than a standard garnish, it has a Dos Equis beer bottle stuck neck first into the glass.

1 bottle Dos Equis beer1 frozen margarita

Upend a chilled bottle of beer in a frozen margarita in a classic wide-mouthed glass and let it gently bubble into the slushy as you imbibe the margarita through a straw. Garnish with a slice of lime.MAKGEOLLI COCKTAILS

Makgeolli is a traditional rice-based Korean liquor, considered the nation's oldest such drink. The milky spirit brews in clay pots, is lightly carbonated and sweet, and about as alcoholic as a good beer.

For the most part, makgeolli had for generations been relegated to farming areas where the rice was plentiful, or to low-rent bars. Now, in the capital city of Seoul, it is making a pop culture comeback.

Because it blends so well with virtually any kind of fruit and spice, most bartenders have taken to chopping up such things as mango, melon or citrus fruits into chunks and popping them into a blender with the makgeolli.THIS IS IT

The Michael Jackson film finale, "This Is It," is getting mixed reviews. It also is getting mixed drinks at the Movie Tavern chain of cinema restaurants, most of them located in Texas.